First-place underdogs: Redblacks set to tackle the Ticats and Hamilton hyperbole

Hey, it’s quite understandable that the Hamilton Ticats are the pick of most to take over first place in the East with a win over Ottawa at TD Place on Friday. They’ve won two straight while the Redblacks have dropped a pair in a row, leaving both teams with 8-7 records.

As Redblacks coach Rick Campbell said Thursday, pro sports is a “what have you done for me lately?” business.

“We’ve done a lot of good things this year,” Campbell added later. “It hasn’t been perfect by any stretch, but we’re very capable. I certainly don’t mind being counted out or people doubting us. I have no problem with that.”

At the same time, the Hamilton hyperbole is out of control.

CFL Simulation, a computer program that predicts results, which can be found on the league’s website, suddenly has the Ticats as a 94.32 per cent favourite to win the East Division, with the Redblacks listed at 5.68 per cent. After last week’s results, which saw the Tabbies defeat the lowly Toronto Argos (by two touchdowns) and the B.C. Lions handing the 12-3 Stampeders their first home loss of the season (by five points), Hamilton has emerged as the favourite to become the 106th team to hoist the coveted Cup.

The Stamps are at 28.29 per cent and not even next in line. The 9-7 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, coming off a 31-0 skunking of Saskatchewan, are listed at 29.72 per cent.

The Redblacks are a minuscule 2.09 per cent favourite, according to the simulator.

“I think that thing is broken,” said Redblacks middle linebacker Kyries Hebert, before slowly and deliberately adding for emphasis: “But it’s fine. I think we embrace that position of being an underdog. Even when you’re in first place. Still being an underdog. We embrace it. It’s fine. Everyone can pick them. As long as we believe, the people in our room.

While that last line was meant as a joke, Hebert was mostly all business at Thursday’s walk-through. He was not the same guy who was trash-talking the Ticats, their city and their quarterback before the Redblacks stole a 21-15 victory on July 28 in Steeltown.

Along with saying he hates Hamilton — “the city stinks and the uniforms are ugly” — Hebert said he wasn’t fond of Jeremiah Masoli.

“That’s one quarterback I don’t like,” he said back then. “He spoke to me like we were in the streets. I don’t live in the streets. I haven’t lived in the streets in a long time. He spoke to me like he knew me. I don’t like that.”

Asked Thursday about Masoli, and the MVP-type season he’s having, Hebert was gracious and complimentary.

“We don’t have to go there (this week),” said Hebert. “Glad to be home in Ottawa.”

To stop the third-highest-scoring offence in the league, Hebert said the Redblacks will need a “collective” effort from a defence that has been hit hard by injuries. Chris Ackie, his former teammate in Montreal, will be making his first start since being traded to Ottawa at the deadline last week.

They’re looking forward to lining up next to each other.

“I gave him a ride to Montreal a couple of days ago to pick up the rest of his things,” said Hebert. “We talked a lot of ball, and we talked about the transition from being there and being here, with the opportunity to do something special. We’re both excited about it.”

Said Ackie: “I’m comfortable playing beside Ky. It’s a nice transition. Especially when you have your (middle) and (weak side) linebacker, the more chemistry they have the better. I’m lucky to come to a situation where I know Kyries well. I know how he plays. We can just flat out play off each other.”

The magnitude of this game is enormous. Former Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris told TSN1200 earlier this week, “Whoever wins will go to the Grey Cup.”

Citing the Redblacks’ two-game losing streak, Burris added: “If you lose that third in a row, against a team you need to beat and can’t get it done, mentally that’s a huge setback.”

It can be a slippery slope that ends in wreckage at this time of season, when teams are striving for momentum heading into the playoffs.

“This game is so important,” said Hebert, “one because it’s a division opponent and two because it’s a division opponent whose threatening our position. So forget what happened in weeks past, not looking forward to what’s coming up in the future. But this is a big game with great meaning to it. Everyone knows. They know it, we know it, you guys know it.

“So we’re going to come out here and expect a dogfight, and give it everything we have.”

HARRIS HAS HEARD THE TALK

Trevor Harris is aware of the talk, the knock, the naysayers who doubt he can win the big game.

He’s kinda wondering where it’s coming from.

“I hear what people say, the fact that I can’t win a playoff game and all that kind of stuff,” the Redblacks quarterback said Thursday. “I’ve played in one playoff game. Let’s keep the perspective here. It’s not like I’ve lost 10.”

Harris’ only post-season action was in the East semifinal against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at TD Place. The Redblacks lost 31-20 as Harris completed 37 of 60 passes for 457 yards. He tossed two TD passes and two interceptions.

Meanwhile, Harris strives to thrive in the biggest game of all.

“Obviously I want to be in the Grey Cup every year,” he said. “I push myself every day during the off-season, during the season, and I’m all in, my chips are all in every single week. If you talked to my teammates, they’d all tell you the same thing.

“But it’s all for us. It’s about us. And I think if we play great as a team, not one person is going to lose or win a game for us. That’s the beauty of this game. It’s the ultimate team game.”

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